Defensible Barracks, Pembroke Dock

The Defensible Barracks is a 20-sided fortification with thick stone walls surrounded by a moat and featuring a central parade ground at its heart. The complex comprises four two-story barrack ranges connected by a modern steel bridge, with original gun mountings still visible on most of the bastions.

Built between 1841 and 1846, it replaced the ship HMS Dragon that previously housed Royal Marines protecting the dockyard. This shift from shipboard to land-based fortification reflected the changing defense strategies needed for the harbor during the Victorian era.

The Georgian-style courtyard displays a balanced architectural layout with symmetrical buildings that create an enclosed square, reflecting the military order of its era. The arrangement of barrack wings around the central plaza was typical for military complexes of that period and continues to define the site's character.

Access to the interior is gained through the fortified gatehouse at the entrance, from which the various barrack ranges can be reached. Visitors should note that the structure spans multiple levels and some areas may have steep stairs or uneven surfaces.

This site stands as one of Europe's last trace bastion forts, featuring original musket holes and reinforced passageways that visitors can still observe. These construction features demonstrate the engineering specifics of this 19th-century defense method.